JensenPersonal Cassette Player/Recorder with AM/FM Radio

First of all, it’s a Jensen which is known for quality audio equipment.I bought this mainly for the cassette player. (I had a few old cassettes on which I recorded a friend who had passed over 30 years ago. I wanted to see if the cassettes were still good and to hear his voice again. They were and I was able to without issue.) The cassette mechanism is great, no issues here.The radio comes through clear and I was actually able to pick up stations in other States which was great to listen to. It is a transistor radio, so as long as you do not expect stereo sound quality you should be very pleased with this little radio.It is small and compact. Easy to carry with you as needed. Remember to bring extra batteries with you as this radio is not rechargeable as is everything else nowadays.And it came to me just in time, as we had several power outages days after receiving it. It proved it’s worth right there.I recommend. It’s worth getting it for those emergencies where other equipment will not work in power/WiFi outages. 5 stars plus!

I needed a device to play my cassette tapes. I didn't want a huge box that also plays other items. This one, however, played tapes well for a few tapes, but then stopped responding. I put in a tape and press play, and it slows down and gives nothing but a grinding noise. Will not recommend. It only last about a month, and now they tell me the 30 days is up and it is too late to return. Totally dissatisfied with this Jenson.

I liked the feel of the unit. It felt solid and produced a very good sound. Very good radio reception as well. I have some old cassettes that I wanted to listen to. However, I packed it in a soft carry on bag and after only 2 weeks of using it now it doesn't work at all. I must have damaged it somehow in the carrying bag I placed it in though I don't recall direct trauma to the bag itself, but, it must have happened. I have been wondering about replacing it since it was a good unit, and obviously I would transport it around a little differently. It didn't feel fragile to me, so I blame myself and not the unit itself, I wish I had it longer to be able to give an accurate review (sounds crazy I know).

SUMMARYA well-built (in comparison to other new personal cassette players) device that gets the job done, though it looks and feels better than it sounds. If a person has realistic expectations then they will be pleased with their purchase.BEST USE-CASE SCENARIOI have an Ion Boombox Deluxe that I use as my main cassette player, but I was looking for something in a walkman-style form factor that didn't require using headphones. This Jensen player fits that need. I can take a few tapes in a carrying case and the player, sit out in the backyard, kick back and listen to some music.Sadly, there are no high quality personal cassette players that are newly manufactured. This is about is good as it gets. Some will suggest buying a vintage walkman, but that poses other issues. Worn or stretched belts, capacitors that have swelled and no longer function, volume knobs that are worn/oxidized resulting in scratchy audio, headphone jacks that are worn, are just a few of the more common issues.BUILD QUALITYThe weight of the Jensen player/recorder is heavier than the alternatives and feels substantial. The black rubberized body looks and feels like a quality device. The buttons are solid and well-labeled. The body has a little tab to keep the telescoping antenna securely stored when not in use.MONO AUDIOI don't know if other reviewers received a different model, but the one I received did NOT have a stereo record/playback head. You can tell if the head is stereo if the silver rectangle on the head is divided into two thinner rectangles. The head on this Jensen has a single silver rectangle.Since it contains only a single speaker, this isn't necessarily a show-stopper. Using stereo earbuds results in the mono sound in both left and right sides.I would not recommend using the recording function unless there was no other way to capture what you'd like to capture. There's no noise reduction and it is in mono meaning that using tapes recorded on this device on other cassette players will sound pretty bad.CASSETTE PLAYBACKOut of the box, the player ran a bit fast. Thankfully, there is a pinhole in the back for access to the speed control adjustment screw. Using an eyeglass screwdriver, I was able to tweak the speed to get it to play more accurately.When the play button is pressed, there is about 1/2 second of "wobbly" sound, but then immediately settles in and plays well.Cassettes sound flat and there are no tone controls, but they play clearly. There is NO motor noise, hum, or static in the sound. That was a pleasant surprise.AM/FMThe device can pull in radio stations though it can be a bit tricky to center on the strongest point of the dial for a station.

Absolutely Amazed! Damn nice little unit. I am stunned as to how well it works, Well made for its size & volume is crisp & clear.Perfect for when the power goes out. Let's see how long it lasts now. The only thing I concerned with is the black, thinRubber Coating on the unit. I've had radios & head phones with this same coating, & it usually starts turning to mush & getsreally sticky over time. But, only time will tell.

Not a bad walkman-like device for the money. Sound on cassette is clean but a little harsh. An actual Sony Walkman is a superior product but is not readily available.

The media could not be loaded. It looks very nice with the matte black, works well but I did just open it, wel see how long it lasts. It sounds maybe 8 out of 10. Not the crispiest treble or deepest bass. Its good though and it is cassette so that in itself is not the best sound. I tried with Aiaiai headphones and those arent the best on sound quality. I also hooked it up to my Sirius XM boombox and it definitely sounds a lot better. I like the cassette sound (hiss) (muffle) so its good for me. Good job Jensen! Give you props because no other big brands make these anymore.

I had to look for a cassette player since my car did not have one, and I had plenty of cassette tapes both recorded and original from music artists. With the proper wire to connect to the auxiliary input port in the car I was able to listen to the music I enjoyed. Although this cassette player was not the inexpensive one, it looked like the one that will last longer. Still in use and a good investment.